Charles algernon parson s



(No Model.)

C. A. PARSONS.

GOVERNOR EOE STEAM TUEBINE VALVES.

No. 549,815. Patented NOV. 12,1895.

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`D F L2 C) E 1` E E (D f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, or EYTON, ENGLAND.

GOVERNOR FOR STEANl-TURBINE VALVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,815, dated November12, 1895.

Application filed September 26, 1891. Serial No. 406,944. (No model.)Patented in England July 16, 1890, No. 11,083.

To all whom t may concern.' A

Beit known that I, CHARLES ALGEENON PARSONS, a citizen of Great Britain,residing at Ryton, in the county of Durham, England, have invented newand useful Improvements in Governors for Steam-Turbine Valves, (forwhich l have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 11,083, datedJuly 16, 1890,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a special type of engine -governor in whichmotive fluid is used to operate the steam-admission valve or valves ofsteam-turbines in a particular way, and also to the mode of regulatingthe action of the fluid by electrical or other means.

The main object of the invention is to efficientlywork and control anadmission valve or valves admitting' steam periodically to the enginefor periods of longer or shorter dura-4 tion, the periods being variedautomatically to suit the varying demands of work from the motor,together with varying steam-pressure. l thereby secure to the motorgreater economy in the consumption of working' fluid than is obtainablewhen the regulation is effected by lhrottlin g the workin g fluid or byother means detrimental to economical working. To supply motive fluidfor working the admissionvalve in accordance with one feature of myinvention, I prefer to use a reciprocating pump or any pump producing apulsating flow. lt may be either a pressure or a suction pump, and itmay have no valves or any number of valves. I prefer, however, asingle-acting pump for pressure, with two valves utilizing air as theworking fluid. The pump may be worked from the engine-shaft or acounter-shaft driven from the engine or an electric or other motor ofany description, the required condition being that the speed of thereciprocations shall be such as to secure the most suitable periodicityof the admissions of motive fluid to the motor to obtain good economywith steadiness of motion. I prefer in most cases to pump from acountershaft driven by gearing from the main engine. From the pump theiiuid is led under a piston, which lifts the main admissionvalve againsta strong spring or weight tending to close it.

According to one arrangement of my invention a leak-off or Waste valveallows the fluid to escape from the pump or supply-pipe, thus allowingthe admission-valve to close more or less or for longer or shorterperiods at each stroke of the pump. If the leak-off valve be closed, theadmission-valve remains full open. lf the leak-off valve be opened, theadmission-valve remains closed. A relief-valve or hole is provided underthe piston which lifts the admission-valve.

AccordingI to another, arrangement of my invention a catch or stop isarranged to prevent the working or closing of one or m( re valves of thepump, with the object of either allowing the air to escape back, or toprevent its passage more or less through the pump. When the air escapesback, or little or none is pumped, the main throttle-valve soon closesby the action of the spring or weight, and its rapidity of closing maybe increased or diminished to any degree by providing a leak in thesystem to the required amount. To regulate the leak-off valve in thefirst or the pump-valves in the second arrangement, l may use anymechanical governo actuated from the engine or any other source, such asan electric motor, if a dynamo is being driven by the engine; but Iprefer to use the attractive force of magnets or a solenoid and core ortwo solenoids or any convenient force derived from an electric source.Any of these methods may be used to work a small leak-off valve, whichmay be of any ordinary construction-such as a small slide- ,valve, plainor cylindrical, or a miter-valve* but so proportioned as to give thenecessary accuracy and quickness of governing and to be free ofmovement.

In the accompanying drawing I illustrate an effective arrangement ofgovernor constructed in the manner hereinbefore described and designedto control the steamadmission to a steam-turbine. l

The pump-cylinder A (shown in transverse section) carries the piston A',which piston is actuated by crank or eccentric on a countershaft drivenfrom the turbine-spindle by suitable means, such as is illustrated anddescribed inthe specification forming part of my application for LettersPatent of the United States, iiled July 27, 1893, Serial No. 481,653;

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but since such features form no part of this application and are notclaimed herein they are not illustrated.

The piston on its outstroke takes air into the cylinder through theinlet-valve K and compresses it and discharges it through the valve L3by the pipe I to the cylinder B under the piston C. The piston C isthrust downward by the spring G, acting between it and the cap G, andthe piston, by the pistonrod Cf, passing through suitable packingglands,moves the balanced or double-beat valve D, which valve controls theadmission of steam to the turbine by opening or closing the passage Fleading to the turbine, and so allowing steam to enter from thelive-steam space E or cutting it off.

In ordinary action each stroke of the pumppiston, by forcing air underthe piston C, causes it to rise against the spring G, and so open thevalve D. When the pump ceases forcing air, the leak-oit aperture H,which is controlled by the screw HQ permits the air to escape from thecylinder B, and so allows the spring G to thrust down the piston C andclose the steam-admission valve. The leakotf aperture H may be regulatedto cause the valve D to close with the desired rapidity7 so thatitcopens and closes at every stroke of the pump or remains open till thegovernor determines that it shall close. One arrangement of electricalgoverning contrivance is shown. The solenoid N has pivoted above it theleverL, which carries at one end the immersed core L/, forming part ofthe lever, and is balanced b y a similarly-shaped end L2. The spring O,which is adjusted by the screw O', resists the action of the solenoidand pulls the lever L to one extreme position when no current ispassing. The spindle K of the inlet or suction air-valve K projectsbelow the cylinder, and when. the lever L is in the position shown uponthe drawing the end of the spindle is just clear of the shaped or campiece M, carried upon the lever L. The valve K then acts at every strokeof the pump, and so a charge of air in a compressed state is deliveredto the cylinder B at every stroke. If, however, the speed of theturbine, and therefore of the dynamo, should increase, the solenoid Nwill pull the core L' farther in against the action of the spring O, andthe cam or raised portion M of the piece M will raise the spindle K andhold open the valve K, so that the air taken into the pump on theoutstroke is discharged on the return-stroke without passing through thevalve L3, and therefore the piston C remains down and does not open thesteam-valve D. So long as the speed rcmains too high the valve D is keptshut. When the solenoid N ceases to pull the core L to such an extent asto hold open the valve K, then the pump resumes its action, and byforcing the air causes the valve D to open and close at every stroke orremain more or less open, as determined by the adjustment of theleak-off aperture H. The valve K may be controlled, as I havehereinbefore explained, by a centrifugal or other mechanical governor,but I prefer the arrangement illustrated. If by any accident theelectric current should cease and the load be thereby removed from theturbine by the cessation of dynamo resistance,then the solen oid nolonger attracts the core L', and the spring O pulls the lever L to suchposition that the projection M/ of the piece M raises the valve K bythestem K. rlhe pump is thus put out of action and the steam-valve D isclosed in either casethat is, when current increases unduly, or when itceases altogether or is unduly reduced by an accident to the dynamo, orother cause.

Instead of the solenoid N and core-lever L an electromagnet and pivotedarmature may be adopted with similar elect.

The motion of the main steam-admission valve in the arrangementillustrated is essentially intermittent and periodical.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is.-

l. The combination with a cut-off valve for a steam turbine, of a springpressed piston or diaphragm connected to said valve, a iluid compressingpump communicating with said piston or diaphragm, a valve admittingiiuid to said pump, and means for controlling or governing saidadmission valve, substantially as described. c

2. The combination with a cut-olf valve for a steam turbine, of a springpressed piston or diaphragm connected to said valve, a Vfluidcompressing pump communicating with said piston or diaphragm, a valveadmitting iluid to said pump, a solenoid, a core and a cam carried bysaid core and adapted to engage said admission valve, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afiixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS. [la s] Iitnesses EDWARD BELL, THoMAsAnMsrRoNc.

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